will I look smarter?

Well, it's official. I started a partime gig at the local library this week and feel no smarter as yet. Certainly imagine I don't appear any smarter as I'm wading through the data entry and catalog systems, waiting for familiarity to rescue me.
Seems as if organizing, words and research are right up my alley. Who woulda thunk it, eh? hee hee.
The ladies there, in varying ages, are all very welcoming and well-read. I even get to push one of those carts around and get the books from the night drop box! Score!
Finally, the hours are very family friendly and Susannah is happy to have a reason to abandon me for the fun-filled environment of Nee-Nanny at least twice a week.
I'll be working two evenings, 2:30-8:30 p.m., and one morning, 8:30 to 2:30 p.m. a week. Galon thinks he can get home early enough one of the evening shifts to keep Susannah from having to go to daycare for all of three hours.
Already I'm amazed at how many folks try to get away with loaning, printing or copying without their library cards and/or expect the poor girl behind the counter to regonize who they are and pull the books they had on hold.
Hoping to get there-
the funny thing so far is since this is a small community, many of the faces I knew from working at the paper frequent the stacks and are mildly confused when they see me behind the desk.
One nice older lady even asked if I was doing an undercover story. At the library. Oofda.

Turning two

A photo essay of sorts about Susannah's second birthday and party:


One of the youngest attendees enjoying herself on a crawl towards the pinata. Entertainment included facepainting, bobbing for doughnuts (big hit, thanks Anna!) and glow stick jewelry.


Party group chilaxing in the backyard. Notice grandparents, including my dad donning a painter's suit/white bunny outfit, on the perimeter. Atmosphere was haybale seating, carved pumpkin and candle lighting and tons of sweets (along with warm cheese pizza.)


Opening grandparents' and mommy and daddy presents after the party. Big hits were baby dolls and horses, go figure. Susannah was dressed as a kitty cat, but by this point her ears had gone akimbo.


The day after the sugar high of '09 and enjoying time with books from Uncle Ev and Auntie Katherine. She kept doing this intense smile (displaying neck tendons) and trembling all over with excitment throughout the night. Should be an entertaining Christmas, but all the more difficult to teach the true meanings of the season.

delish

So I made this along with ham, pineapple bake and brocolli today when we had G's parents over for lunch after worship.
It was really good and although I'm sure it's not the most healthy way to ingest fall-friendly squash, it was so yummy it could qualify as a desert. For the record, I didn't include the sugar the recipe calls for and it was plenty sweet. It's not the prettiest looking in the photo, but pretty is as pretty tastes, if you ask me. Another good thing to do with butternut (after working hard to peel and chop, then cook them) is butternut bisque, which there are plenty of recipes for out there. Galon doesn't like it much and since my recipe makes a stockpot full, we don't have it much. And don't forget that baking with fresh pumpkin (bought at local farmer's markets or produce stands) helps cut on waste/packaging, delivers local business and tastes way better.
Happy harvest.

INGREDIENTS
3 cups mashed, cooked butternut squash
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 cup white sugar


DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter one 2 quart casserole dish.
Blend together the butternut squash, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, butter, vanilla, cream and sugar.
Pour into prepared casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 to 45 minutes or until set and edges begin to bubble.
Prepare a topping if desired by combining 1 cup brown sugar, 1/3 cup flour, 1/3 cup butter and 1/2 cup chopped nuts. Mix together and sprinkle over squash before baking.